Fishby LogoFishby

How to Identify GloFish (Zebra Danio/Black Skirt Tetra)

Danio rerio (Zebra Danio)/Gymnocorymbus ternetzi(Black Skirt Tetra)

Got a photo? Identify fish instantly with the Fishby app.

Open the app

To identify GloFish (Zebra Danio/Black Skirt Tetra) (Danio rerio (Zebra Danio)/Gymnocorymbus ternetzi(Black Skirt Tetra)), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape
elongated
Coloration
GloFish exhibit a range of vibrant, unnatural fluorescent colors including electric green, starfire red, sunburst orange, cosmic blue, galactic purple, and moonrise pink. These colors are stable and genetically inherited. The underlying body shape and fin structure remain consistent with the wild-type Zebra Danio (slender, torpedo-shaped) or Black Skirt Tetra (laterally compressed, disc-shaped).
Scale type
cycloid
Mouth position
terminal
Distinctive features
Genetically engineered to express fluorescent proteins., Vibrant, unnatural coloration (red, green, orange, blue, purple, pink)., Fluorescence is enhanced under blue/UV light.
Dorsal fin
Single, short-based dorsal fin, typically located mid-body (Danio) or slightly posterior to mid-body (Tetra).
Tail fin
Forked caudal fin (Danio) or moderately forked caudal fin (Tetra).
Pectoral fin
Paired pectoral fins, typically clear or slightly colored.
Distinctive fins
All fins are generally clear or take on the fluorescent hue of the body.

Identification Tips

  1. 1

    Coloration

    The most obvious identifier is their intense, unnatural fluorescent colors (e.g., electric green, starfire red, cosmic blue) which are not present in wild fish.

  2. 2

    Fluorescence under blue light

    Under blue or 'black' light, their colors will glow intensely, a characteristic unique to these genetically modified organisms.

  3. 3

    Species-specific morphology

    Beyond the color, observe the underlying body shape and fin structure to identify the base species (e.g., slender, striped body for Danio; compressed, disc-shaped body with a tall dorsal fin for Tetra).

Explore GloFish (Zebra Danio/Black Skirt Tetra)

Identify fish anywhere

Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo identification, full species details, and more.

Open in app